By Dan Roark
We are excited to add Biscuit and Sweet Pea to the New Hope herd.
First, just the facts, ma’am, just the facts (thanks Susan):
Biscuit is a 15 yr. old quarter horse gelding with a big white blaze and one white sock. He is 16 hands high but he thinks he’s a puppy. Someone should have called him Clifford the Big Red Dog! His previous owner has been deployed for three years and Biscuit needed a job.
Sweet Pea is a 10 yr. old off the track thoroughbred. Her jockey club name is Kendall’seatmydust (all
one word), but she never really raced due to a distrust of the starting gates. She is a big, 17 hand chestnut mare with a big white blaze, two white socks, and a white pastern. Like her name implies, she is sweet as can be and loves attention.
Now, to elaborate. Cyndy and I went to see the new horses after the Chisholm Challenge award party. Sweet Pea was in the farthest pen at the bottom of the hill from the barn. She came right to us and happily said hi and was very glad to have the attention. [Side note: having seen a starting gate up close at the Quarter Horse Museum in Amarillo, I understand her distrust of starting gates.]
Biscuit was in the farthest pen up the hill past the arena to the left of the house by the driveway and road. Which meant we had to go through Flash and Gabby’s pen to get to Biscuit. We had foreseen the issue and had treats to distract the two to get through to Biscuit. Of course Biscuit had his head over the fence with a look that said “what took you so long” and “do you have treats for me?” He too, was happy for the attention.
They are two very loving horses who are going to fit right in at New Hope. Esme was the first to ride Biscuit. Which delighted her immensely. They kept to the arena rather than the trail but she was delighted nonetheless. The Saturday after Esme’s Wednesday night lesson, Sharla rode Biscuit and Susan rode Sweet Pea. Then Kimberly rode Biscuit.
When you are operating an equine therapy center – where the majority of riders are those with special needs of one type or another – it is important that the instructors ride the horses before putting riders on them. Riding the horses helps them know which horse would be good for which rider. Not to mention there is constant training at this point.
Join us in welcoming Biscuit and Sweet Pea to the herd! For myself, I look forward to getting to know them and sharing the news with you.
Ride on and Ride for hope.
Register for, or sponsor, the New Hope Sporting Clay Shoot Fundraiser.